Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-21
DRESSES OF sEALsKIN.
A Novelty for Wealthy Women Cost ing From Eight Hundred to I've Thousand Dollars.

A Novelty for Wealthy Women Cost ing From Eight Hundred to I've Thousand Dollars.
 F'Isn't it beautifull'
 "How rich and elegant"
 'It's superb! I should like to have it! What dash one could cut"
 These were some of the expressions Mail and Express writer heard some ladies make one day this week. It was at the fall and winter opening of one of the most fashiona- ble firms in town. The immense showroom was crowded with several score of the gilded and dimpled darlings of New York. Nearly all were leaders of fashion, and at least four could draw their checks tor one million dol I lars each. Money was no object to them. They came to see what was new in furs. They stood in front of and around beauti- fully formed young woman. She was per- feet picture. She was tall straight row and looked every inch Q queen. She l was clothed from head to foot in sealskin. The skirt or dress was entirely of sealskin. A half-dozen buttons covered with the same fur were the only ornament in front. The { bottom was trimmed with wide band of Russian sable. The back was perfectly plain with the exception of 8 little drapery near the waist. The basque was tight-fitting and fastened with small sealskin buttons. It came up closely to the neck, where magnif ieent bar pin, containing half dozen dia- monds, held it together. A quaint little bonnet of sealskin completed the outfit. The hair was of pure gold and was done up | in 8 coil in front, in much the same style l that Mrs. Cleveland affects. Handsome soIi- taires depended from the ears. The wo- mans face was beautiful. She was indeed J picture, and no one could blame the ladies $ for gazing at her-some of them with envi- | said the gentlemanly proprietor, and the | beautiful being in sealskin turned gracefully. A bright gleam of sunlight from an open | window fell upon her as she did so. It | lighted up her face and hair and made the l diamonds sparkle like stars in dark sky. "You will see, ladies'" said the gentleman l in explanation, "that the garment is made 1 tight and to fit the figure closely. Feel of | it. It is not so heavy as some of you inn agine. It's very warm to be sure and could not be worn except upon very cold
 days"
 | ''How lovely" said chorus of voices.
 "Yes, it is," continued the furrier. "A I sealskin basque and skirt is 8 novelty that we shall introduce to New York this win | ter. They are only intended for the very wealthy, and of course money is no object l to women of the class who would like to
 have such costume. This particular cos- l tune is for celebrated actress. It was made to her order. It will cost two thou | sand dollars, including hat and gloves, for the lady insisted that only the best fur should be used. Her name? Oh, no, can't tell it. promised not to-"
 s'Can't such a costume be bought or made for less than two thousand doliarsp asked
 a dashing young woman of splendid phy-
 sique:
 ssOh, yes," was the reply; Ca very fine l costume can be made for from eight hun dred to fifteen hundred dollars. We have
 orders for half a dozen to cost twelve hun drsd dollars now in. They will be plain
 and the skirt will not be of such good ma terial, and the expensive trimming on the
 bottom will not be used. That trimming
 alone cost seventy-five dollars yard. It's
 the best that can be bought"
 The woman in the beautiful costume had not moved while all the conversation was
 going on. She stood like statue.
 "You need not remain longer," finally
 said the furrier, and "Miss Smith" walked | off with the air of queen. She was the
 model of the establishment. She is en-
 ployed to try jackets, newmarkets aEd
 hats and wraps so that would-be purchasers
 may get an idea how garments will look upon I them She is paid for her beauty and su- l perb figure twenty-five dollars week, and l many a lop-sided dame is inclined to pur-
 chase garment after seeing the effect upon
 the dashing beauty.
 Then a tour was made of the salesrooms, 1 and while the ladies were examining the